Surrey pet facility raided by BC SPCA also facing lawsuits from former customers

The owner ofthe pet boarding and breeding facility raided by the B.C.SPCAon Tuesday is also facinglawsuits from former customers who say their pets suffered under her care.

The B.C. SPCAseized 84cats and dogs from theSurreyfacility,claiming the business"failed to provide adequate care for the animals." The SPCAsaid an adult cat and a kitten were in such critical distress they had to be euthanized.

• B.C. SPCA seizescats and dogs from Surrey breeder

The primary concern for the SPCAwas infectious diseases. It says its investigation includes riskof ringworm, feline immuno-deficiencyvirusand upper respiratory infections.

Ivy Zhou, 50,the owner of Pet Daycare Grooming and Sales,denies disease was an issue at her facility. She gave CBC News a tour of the business, pointing out new cages and a special antibacterial floor she had installed.

She says she plans to treat the raid as a learning experience and hopes to begin operating again soon, under the SPCA's guidance.

Zhou caters primarily to customers in the local Chinese community, advertising exclusively in Chinese. Speaking through an interpreter, she told CBC Newsshe has done nothing wrong and that any trouble she's had with regulations is due to her inability to speak English.

Former customers suing

But CBC News has learned two of Zhou's former customers have filed small claims lawsuits against her.

One of the complainantsalleges their cat became very ill after an incomplete declawing operation, requiringadditional surgery.

Another complainant, Ming Zhang, says she returnedhome from a 40-day trip to China to discover one of the two dogs she had boarded at the facility had died a pet she'd owned for12 years.

"I askher'where is my two dogs.' She told us one of my dog was dead 10 days ago. I keep asking her, 'What happened, why my dog is dead here and you didn't tell me?'" she said.

Zhangsays she later saw her dog's body on the floor of a bathroom in the facility, covered with a sheet.

Zhou has not filed a legal response to these claims and theyhave not been proven in court.

Previous raid

A search of court recordsrevealsthe SPCA raided a pet grooming operation run by Zhou at anotherSurrey location in May2014.

At that time, the SPCA alleged animals were in distress and seized a number of them, including two of Zhou's own dogs.

No charges have been laid in that case. Zhou subsequently sued the SPCA to have her two dogs returned to her, but her claim was dismissed by a provincial court judge in January.

The SPCA says it's continuing its investigation and will be recommending charges.